Last-assembling machine



l FULLER LAST ASSEMBLING MACHINE April 15, 1930.

Filed March 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Api'il 15, 1930.

P. FULLER LAST ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNITED STATES unset PATENT OFFICE PERLEY FULLER, OF LEWISTON, MAINE, ASSIGNOR T0 IFI'IZ-EMPIRE DOUBLE PIVOT LAST COMPANY, OF AUBURN, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE LAST-ASSEMBLING MACHINE Application filed March 1, 1927. Serial No. 171,874.

This invention relates to last assembling and is disclosed as embodied in a machine for assembling a last of the type shown in the application of Guy B. Fitz, Serial No. 152,7 03, filed December 4, 1926.

The type of last shown in the application referred to has a heel part and forepart joined by two links, one of which has a projection resting against a strong spring to force the last into extended position when it has been collapsed. As explained in the application, in assembling such a last, it is necessary to turn the spring-pressed link against the spring a considerable distance and to hold it there while the last part not containing the spring is attached to the free end of the link, and in accordance with the invention set forth in the application the non-springpressed link is made so that it can be wedged under the spring-pressed link to hold it in this posi tion.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a machine for eifeoting the proper positioning of the spring-pressed link and thus to avoid injury tothe operator by the snapping of the link if he loses hold of it, in the hand-assembling operation.

Accordingly, I have provided a machine having mechanism for holding a last part having a spring-pressed link and for rotating the link around its pin in the last part against the spring pressure to the position Where it can be wedge-d. Preferably the ap paratus will carry the link and last part together with their pin holes in registration so that the pin can be easily insert-ed.

These and other features of the invention comprising certain combinations and arrangements of parts will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the draw ings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of the machine;

Figs. 2 and 3 are details showing the positions of the parts before and after swinging the link;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of some of the parts shown in Fig. 4 taken through the lower last pin; and

Fig. 6 is a detail of the link holder.

The illustrated last assembling machine comprises a rectangular base 10, arranged to be bolted on a bench, and having parallel guides 12, between which is mounted a slide 14 having an upwardly projecting portion 16 with vertical guide ribs 18. Between these guide ribs 18 is mounted a vertical slide 20 having opposed horizontal circular guide slots 22, in which a circular slide 24 is mounted.

The slide 14 is movable back and forth by toggle links 26, 28 connecting it with the base 10, and operated by a rod 30, which is pulled down by a spring 32 and can be pushed up by a treadle, not shown. The slide 20 is adjustable up and down by a screw 34, and the slide 24 can be moved by the handle 86.

The slide 24 is slotted horizontally to the thickness of the link 38 which is to be inserted in the last to be assembled, and in the slot there is also a member 40, adjustable by a screw 42, and having a cut-away portion 44, with an overhanging corner 46. The slide 24 is also bored to carry a pin 48 extending across the slot, and of proper size to pass through a hole in the link 38. It is evident that the pin 48 being removed, a link 38 can be placed in the slot and then held there by inserting the pin 48 through its end. The overhanging portion 46 of the plate acts as a stop and can be adjusted to hold the link in a desired position against counter-clockwise rotation (Fig. 3), when inserted in the slot, as for example, with the hole 50 in its outer end at the center of the circle on which the slide 24 is formed, the position of the pin 48 being so related to the length of the link as to make this possible.

Mounted also on thebase 10 is another vertical guide 52, in which a slide block 54 is vertically adjustable by a screw 56. This block 54 has an arm 58 which overhangs the center of the base and has a hole 60 in its lower surface arranged to receive the end of a last pin. Directly below the hole 60 is a vertically movable spindle 62, with a nipple 64' at its upper end having the diameter of a last pin and connected to the spindle by a ball and socket joint 66. The spindle 62 is normally held down by a spring 68 compressed between a bracket 70 on the base 10 and a collar on the spindle, and can be raised by a treadle, not shown. When so raised, a spring-pressed latch 72 slides under an enlarged portion 74 on the spindle and looks it in raised position. The latch is disengaged by a handle 76. An adjustable gage 78 is mounted on the base 10.

In using the machine, a last forepart 80, in which a spring 82 and lower link 84 on its pin 86 have been mounted, is placed with one end of its lower pin hole on the nipple 64, which has been drawn down by the treadle. The pin 86 is not completely driven home, as seen in Fi g. 5, and its projecting end is guided to the hole. by rocking the last on the ball and socket joint, and the spindle 62 is then allowed to rise and to be locked by the latch 72, as shown in Fig. 5. Adjustment of the screw 56 will enable the forepart to be firmly grasped.

The upper link 38 is then inserted and pinned in the slot in the member 24 and the abutment 46 adjusted, preferably to carry the hole 50 in the link to the center of the circular slide 24, and the screw 34: will adjust the slide 20 to bring the link 38 opposite the kerf 88 in the forepart.

The links 26,28 will then be manipulated to move the slide 14 and carry the link 38 into the kerf 88. The gage 7 8 will have been arranged to hold the forepart 80 against clockwise rotation (Fig. 1) with its upper pin hole 90 in the path of movement of the hole 50, and as the holes come into correspondence the upper forepart pin will be inserted in the holes by the operator. During all this time the slide 24 has been at its rearmost position, as seen in Fig. 1, and the positions of the parts are shown in Fig. 2.

After the upper pin is driven in the holes 50, 90, the operator, by means of the handle 36, throws the slide 24 toward him around its circle, thus swinging the link 38 around the pin in the holes 50, 90, compressing the spring 82, which catches on the hump 92 on the link 38, and turning the link up into the position shown in Fig. 3, after which the link 84 is swung around with its projecting end portion 94 under the upper link 38 to hold it in this position under the pressure of the spring, this condition being shown in the application above referred to. The pin 48 i is then removed, the spindle 62 depressed, and

the forepart, all ready for the attachment of the heel part, can be removed from the machine.

In some cases, with some forms of work it may not be necessary to swing the circular slide 24, and the link 38 while already in its assembling position can be forced home against the spring, the pin driven through the holes 50, 90, and the link 84 wedged under the spring-pressed link. In such cases the handle 36 will be pulled out toward the operator and kept there permanently.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A lastassembling machine having means for holding a last part, means for holding a last link, and mechanism for causing a movementof relative approach between a last part and a last link carried by said means, the two said means being relatively adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal vertical plane of the last part;

2. A last assembling machine having means for holding a last part, means for holding a last link, said means being relatively adjustable perpendicularly to the plane of the link, and mechanism for causing a movement of relative approach between a last part and a last link carried by said means.

3. A last assembling machine having means for holding a last part having a pin hole, means for holding a last link having a pin hole, means for moving the link and the last part toward each other to bring the said holes into registration and permit the driving of a pin through them, and means for thereafter turning the link and the last part relatively about the pin.

4. In a last assembling machine, a circular slide arranged to hold a last link with a hole thereof substantially at the center of the circle, and means for holding a last part with a hole therein at the center of the circle in registration with the hole in the link.

5. In a last assembling machine, a last link holding member having a pin arranged to enter a hole in a last link, and means for restricting rotation of the link around the pin.

6. In a last assembling machine, a last link holding member having a slot whose thickness is substantially equal to that of a last link, means for pivotally mounting a last link in the slot, and means for restricting the rotation of the link around its pivotal mounting in one direction.

7. In a last assembling machine, a last link holding member having a slot whose thickness is substantially equal to that of a last link, means for pivotally mounting a last llnk n the slot, and a sliding member ad ustable in the slot and having an abutment arranged to contact with the link to restrict its rotation in one direction.

8. In a last assembling machine, means for suspending a last part upon a pin hole therein comprising a ball and socket joint in the suspending means at one end of the pin hole.

9. In a last assembling machine, means for holding a last part having a partly driven pin in a pin hole, comprising a member arranged to engage the projecting end of the pin, and an opposed member arranged to enter the opposite end of the pin hole, one of said members comprising a ball and socket joint.

10. In a last assembling machine, a last part holding mechanism having means for engaging the last part at one end of a pin hole extending from side to side of the last part, means for supporting the last part also at the other end of the pin hole, and means for limit ing the rotation of the last part about the axis of the pin hole.

11. In a last assembling machine, separate means for holding two component parts of a last, and means for effecting a movement of relative approach between the said component parts, the two said holding means being relatively adjustable in a direction lateral of the last to bring the two component last parts into proper registration.

12. In a last assembling machine, means for holding two component parts of a last, and means for effecting a movement of relative rotation between the said component parts.

18. In a last assembling machine, means for holding two component parts of a last, means for effecting a movement of relative 5 approach between the said component parts,

and means for effecting a movement of relative rotation between the said component parts.

14. In a last assembling machine, means 2'0 for holding a last part with a spring-pressed link pivoted therein, and means for swinging the link against the pressure of the spring.

15. In a last assembling machine, means for holding a last part with a spring-pressed link 3 pivoted therein, and means for swinging the link against the pressure of the spring comprising a circular slide having its center approximately at the pivotal mounting of the link in the last part.

16. In a last assembling machine, means for holding a last part with a spring-pressed link pivoted therein, and means for swinging the link against the pressure of the spring to permit wedging of the link in its rotated position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

PERLEY FULLER. 

